JPS62183732A - Rotary brush cleaner with easily separable dust receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a rotary brush sweeper having a waste container that automatically detaches from the sweeper when it gets caught on an obstacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A rotating brush sweeper includes a waste bin that collects debris that is swept into the waste bin by a rotating brush.

Particularly when the sweeper is used outdoors and obstacles such as rocks, broken sidewalks, etc. are common on the surface being cleaned, the debris can get caught in the sweeper's waste bin. As a result, it is undesirable for the entire sweeper to suddenly stop. This creates an unpleasant and harmful impact on the user, which can cause the waste bin to crack or bend. Furthermore, attaching, removing, and fixing the waste bin is cumbersome, and the sweeper must be raised or tilted.

In order to effectively collect debris from uneven surfaces, such as those found outdoors, the entrance to the brush bin should be close to the ground. This was not possible with conventional sweeper waste bins. It is also desirable to adjust the height of the brush, but this is not easy with the waste bins of many conventional sweepers.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rotary brush sweeper that includes a waste container that automatically detaches from the sweeper when an obstacle is caught.

Another object of the invention is to allow the waste bin to be easily installed, removed and reinstalled.

Yet another object of the present invention is to easily adjust the height of the brush and sweeper.

Another purpose is to allow the waste bin to rest on uneven surfaces and still collect waste.

Another object is to provide a rotating brush sweeper that is simple in construction and easy to assemble.

(Structure of the Invention) The present invention relates to a rotary brush sweeper for removing dirt from the ground. The sweeper includes a housing. A pair of ground motion rear wheels are rotatably mounted to the housing. One of the rear wheels serves as a drive wheel that drives rotating brushes disposed in front of both rear wheels.

A front wheel is also rotatably attached to the housing.

A waste bin is installed between the rain rear wheels. It has an inlet extending towards the front wheel and located behind the sweeping brush. The waste bin includes a bottom, a rear wall extending upwardly from the bottom, and a pair of opposing sides that together form an open top enclosure with the bottom and the rear wall. The waste bin inlet is formed by the bottom and both sides of the waste bin. A rear support means at the rear of the housing removably supports the rear of the waste bin. The rear support means has a laterally extending opening in the rear wall of the waste bin and a tab extending rearwardly and upwardly from the housing and projecting through the opening to support the waste bin. In one embodiment, the rear support means further comprises a detent projecting rearwardly from the rear of the waste bin. The detent extends into the other opening. Means is provided for forcing the detent into the opening to force the waste bin to be strongly supported by the housing. The front support means for removably supporting the front part of the waste bin is a front support member fixed to the waste bin and forming a side surface of the waste bin. The front support means further includes a laterally extending support member that projects directly or indirectly from the housing and is located below the waste bin support member when the waste bin is in the supported position.

The rotating brush is generally cylindrical and includes an axle located in front of the waste bin and behind the front wheel and supported at least in part by the housing. A drive means coupling the rotating brush to the drive wheel rotates the brush when the drive wheel rotates. The rotating brush rotates in the same direction as the drive wheel.

If the waste container hits an obstacle and the rotating brush sweeper is moving, the waste container will automatically separate from both the front and rear support means of the sweeper, reducing the impact on the waste container and the user. prevent.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the front part of the waste bin is shaped to slide into contact with the surface being swept by the rotating brush sweeper. Furthermore, the waste bin support members of the front support means for the waste bin are spaced apart above the horizontally extending support members in a vertical dimension that moves the waste bin up and down relative to the housing, so that the contour of the surface to be cleaned is adjusted. Slide the front of the waste bin over the surface to be cleaned.

Furthermore, the height of the front wheel support of the sweeper can be adjusted.
The brush can be moved up and down slightly if necessary. For example, as the brush wears, the plan can be lowered to maintain the desired contact pressure with the surface being cleaned.

A rotating side broom can be incorporated into the sweeper if desired. The height from the float to the ground is adjusted by height adjustment supports on the front wheels.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

(Example) Similar parts in each drawing are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows the main parts of a rotary brush sweeper according to the present invention.

The sweeper 10 includes a housing 12, made of, for example, plastic, to which a pair of rear wheels 14, 16 and a front wheel 18 are mounted. Figure 1 shows these front and rear wheels 1
4, 16 and 18 are schematically shown. Preferably, each rear wheel 14, 16 consists of a rubber tire mounted on a plastic hub, and the front wheel 18 consists of casters.

A rotating blank, preferably of the type having a twisted wire axle, is rotatably mounted to the housing 12 at the rear of the front wheel 18. Directly behind the rotating brush (i.e. the first
On the right side of the figure, a waste container n is provided, and the waste is swept into the waste container by a rotating brush and collected. This waste bin n will be explained in more detail.

A hand grip handle 24 is fixed to the housing 12.

The handle 24 has a conveniently gripped yoke portion (not shown). The preferred mounting of the handle 24 is according to its construction, in which the lower part of one side of the handle 24 (preferably symmetrical to the other side) has an opening 24a through which the rod 26 passes.
has. This rod is preferably the axle of the rear wheel 14 (FIG. 1). A pair of strut horns 4 attached to the housing 12
24 Q limits the degree of rotation of the handle centering on the rod.

FIG. 2 shows the rotary brush sweeper 10 with various parts removed or cut away to reveal the drive for rotating the rotary brush markings. The drive device mark has a drive pulley 52 fixed to the rear axle 26, to which the wheel 1 shown in FIG.
4 is also attached so that rotation of the wheel 14 causes the drive pulley 52 to rotate. The other rear wheels freely rotate around the rear axle. Drive I also includes a driven pulley 53 so that the rotary brush rotates at a higher speed than drive wheel 14 (FIG. 1). An endless rubber belt 56 having a slight elasticity is connected to circumferential grooves 52a of the pulleys 52 and 53, respectively.
, 53a to transmit the rotational motion of the drive pulley 52 to the driven pulley 53.

Also shown in FIG. 2 is a support panel 58 which depends from the top of the housing 12 and supports the left or "drive" end of the rear shaft 26 and rotating brush shaft 55. The opposite or right-hand ends of the shafts 26.55 (not shown) may be suitably supported by conventional bushings which allow each shaft to rotate freely. The rear shaft 26 is supported by the IP flanneling by passing through an opening (not shown) in the panel without a bushing between the shafts 55, and the support panel includes a cutout mark for receiving the shaft 55. The shaft is preferably received in a bushing 62 fitted in the notch ω. The cutout mark extends rearwardly and upwardly from the opening within the support panel portion. This simple installation achieved by the notch mark allows the shaft to be inserted into the notch ω, and when the belts attached to the pulleys 52 and 53 are tensioned, the shaft can be moved to a predetermined position within the notch by the belt I. Can be fixed in position.

In FIG. 2A, the rotating brush shaft 55 and the support/flat panel 5
Both edges of the bushing 62 between the bushings 62 have flat-bottomed grooves 62a to receive portions of the support groove forming the sides of the notch marks that prevent rotation of the bushing.

The bushing includes an opening 62a through which the brush shaft 55 passes. The bushing 62 is made of low friction plastic or other friction material.

A waste bin 22 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown partially in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIG. 3. The waste bin n is rigid and made of metal or plastic such as polypropylene. The waste bin includes a flat bottom 70, a curved rear wall 72 to which the bottom 70 joins, and opposing sides 74,76. The sides 74, 76 are joined to the bottom 70 and to the curved rear wall 72 to which the bottom 70 joins. The sides 74° and 76 are the bottom 70
and rear wall 72 to form a top-opening enclosure in which debris is collected. The top of housing 12 completes this enclosure. A plurality of ribs 78a.

781), 78C extend upwardly from the bottom 70 and sides 74,76. These lips 78a to 78C divide the inside of the waste bin n to form pins. Therefore, once collected in the pins, the waste in the waste bin n will not be transferred to other parts of the waste bin or be thrown out of the waste bin during sudden stops or changes of direction.

At the front of the waste container bottom 7 (18), there is a scoop 8 formed in an arc shape (Fig. 1) to make it easier to sweep waste into the waste container n.
0. The upper edge of the scoop has a side surface of 74°76
With a ridge 82 extending therebetween, the scoop together with the lateral lip 78a forms a forward pin within the waste bin n.

<The scoop in front of the container is made of vinyl (Figure 3A)
Preferably, it is coated with a layer 86 of equal low friction material. This improves the sliding of the waste bin over the surface and prevents excessive damage and wear to the front of the waste bin.

A plurality of longitudinally extending rails 84 are provided adjacent to the lower side of the waste bin bottom 7 (18), and the rails 84 are arranged to position and set the normal height of the front part of the scoop over the surface to be swept. It extends so that it slides.

To attach the waste container n to the housing of the rotary brush sweeper, the front attachment of the waste container n must be done on the side 7 according to the configuration.
4 and 76 are provided with notches 92, respectively. Each notch extends rearwardly and upwardly from its inlet opening 90a, 92a.

According to the configuration, the rear mounting of the waste bin n has a transverse hole 94 in the rear wall 72 of the waste bin. Roughly hook-shaped tab% is hole 9
4 extends rearward from the upper wall 72.

This tab serves as a handle for the waste bin and also reinforces the waste bin.

FIG. 4 shows the attachment of the waste container to the housing 12. A sweeper 10 is shown on a surface 100 to be cleaned. To support the rear part of the waste bin n, the housing 12 includes a rearward and upwardly projecting tab 102;
This tab protrudes from a horizontal hole 94 in the rear wall of the waste bin ρ. This rear support means 94.degree. 102 cooperates with the notch 92 and one of its notches (A), not shown in FIG. 4, and the transverse member 26, which serves as the axis of each rear wheel. The transverse member 26 passes through the notch 92 and the sides of the waste bin abut the member 26. This serves as the front support structure for the waste bin.

By pulling the waste bin handle 96 rearward and upward, the waste bin n can be easily removed from the sweeper of the present invention. This releases the waste bin from the rear tab 102 and moves the notch 92 away from the member 26. This removal position of the waste bin 4 is indicated by the dashed line in FIG.

Similarly, automatic removal of the waste bin n from the sweeper is accomplished by preventing forward movement of the waste bin along the housing by the shovel 80 catching on an obstruction (not shown) on the surface 100. The rear wall of the waste bin then rides up and separates from the tab 102 while the open front of the notch 92 separates the member 26 from the waste bin.

The notch 92 of the waste container n has a vertical dimension that allows the rail mixture of the waste container to be moved up and down by the unevenness of the cleaning surface 10 (18). Therefore, the waste container Scots f8
0 can slide on and close to the surface 100 regardless of changes in the shape of the surface.

Also shown is a simple and inexpensive height adjustment device 130 that adjusts the height from the housing 12 to the front wheel 18.

This height determines the degree of contact or pressure of the rotating brush J against the surface 100. This allows you to adjust brush wear and surface roughness. In its preferred embodiment, height adjustment device 130 includes a downwardly directed sleeve 131 formed at the front of housing 12 . This sleeve 1
31 includes an opening 132 into the front of housing 12.

Opening 132 includes internal threads 134 that are screwed into externally threaded swivel caster sleeve 136. The downward extension rod 136b of the caster 18 is received in the opening 135 of the sleeve 136 and freely rotated. Simply rotating threaded sleeve 136 clockwise or counterclockwise relative to downward extension sleeve 131 changes the height of housing 12 above front wheel 18 as desired.

A waste bin 522 according to the present invention is shown in FIG.

This waste bin 522 is similar to the waste bin 4 described above. Therefore, the waste container 5220 portion, similar to the waste container B portion, is indicated by a code with % 500 # added.

The rear hole 593 is larger than the hole in the waste bin 22 (FIG. 3) for purposes described below. hole 59
Another hole 595 is provided at the top of 4. hole 5
95 cooperates with a detent of the housing 12, which will be described below, so that the waste bin 522 is strongly supported by the housing.

In the front part of the waste container 522, there is a waste container side surface 574, respectively.
, 576, laterally projecting member 5 extending forwardly from , 576.
90, 592 included. As shown, these members 59
0, 592 are adapted to abut a cooperative support structure attached to housing 12.

FIG. 6 shows how the waste container is attached to the housing 12. The front support member 592 is typically displaced a distance above a cooperating support 60 (18) mounted on the inside of the support flange. Other front support members 590, not shown, are also typically located above the support elements corresponding to the element indicia as well. This corresponding support element is not shown, but
Adapted, it has a bushing for receiving the distal end of the brush shaft 55 (FIG. 2). The regular gap D allows the waste container 522 to slide over the surface 100 even if the surface contour changes. The support member may, for example, abut the support element 592 when the front part of the sweeper is lifted and the waste bin falls and the housing 12
Make sure you don't stray away from it.

To support the rear portion of the waste bin 522, a rearwardly projecting tab 502 projects from the waste bin hole 594. Accordingly, the housing tab 502 supports the rear portion of the waste bin 522.

To firmly hold the waste bin 522 in place, the housing 12 is provided with a rearwardly projecting detent 597. This detent passes through the waste bin hole 595. In order to press the detent toward Omukai, )・Using tab 502
The upwardly protruding portion 5 (13) is pulled against the downwardly protruding flange 598 of the waste bin 522.

FIG. 7A shows a rotating brush sweeper including rotating side floes 702, 704 on the left and right sides of the housing 12, respectively. The floats 702 and 704 are rotatably attached to the housing 12 via support members 705 and 707, respectively, which are fixed to the housing. Flowers 702 and 704 were used to drive rotating brush 4 (indicated by broken lines)
The belts are driven by belts 708 and 710, respectively, which have the same structure as belt 56.

The belt 708 is then wound around 13 pulleys.

That is, a pulley 711 attached to the shaft 26 adjacent to the drive wheel 16, and a pulley 70 integrated with the upper part of the float 702.
2&, the belt 70 is attached to the support member 705.
8 is a guide pulley 714 that translates between the vertical pulley 711 and the horizontal pulley 702a. The other belt 710 is similarly wound around the corresponding pulleys 713, 716, 704a.

FIG. 7B shows the rotary brush sweeper 70 (18) (left side pel) 710 in a left side view. As seen in FIG. 7B, the rotary floats 704 and 7'-IJ 716 are attached to a support member 707, and both pulleys 704a, 716
is a horizontal pulley.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a rotating flotilla 702 or 704 with a simple structure in which the upper and lower bristle support members 800, 802 are integrally interfitted to hold the bristles 804 at a predetermined angle. The bristle support members 800 , 802 are held together in place by screws 806 .

(Effects of the Invention) The rotary brush sweeper with a waste container that slides on the surface to be cleaned has been described above. Even if the waste container gets caught on an obstacle on the surface, the waste container will automatically separate from the sweeper. The pressure of the rotating brush on the surface to be cleaned can be easily adjusted by a simple screw adjustment of the support for the front wheel of the sweeper. The rotating brushes are secured to the main housing of the sweeper by a simple and inexpensive arrangement that relies on the tension of a drive belt included in the sweeper. The rotating side float is attached to the side of the sweeper, and advantages are also obtained by the height from the broom to the ground being adjusted by said threaded support device for the front wheel of the sweeper. This rotary sweeper has a simple structure and is easy to assemble.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, many modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the above disclosure, but only by the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rotating brush sweeper according to the present invention.
The main parts of the sweeper are shown, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rotary brush sweeper of Figure 1 with many parts cut away to clearly show the drive device of the sweeper, and Figure 2A is the shaft support configuration of Figure 2. 3 is a perspective view of a typical waste bin according to the invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a typical waste bin according to the invention; FIG. 1 is a side view of the rotary brush sweeper of the invention, showing the operation of the automatic removal means for the waste container and the height adjustment structure at the front of the sweeper;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a waste bin according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a side plan view of a rotary brush sweeper according to the invention using the waste bin of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7A is an embodiment of a rotary brush sweeper according to the invention having a rotating side broom at the front of the sweeper. FIG. 7B is a partial cross-sectional schematic side view showing the rotating side broom drive device shown in FIG. 7A, and FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the novel side broom structure according to the present invention. 10.700... Rotating brush sweeper, 12...
...Housing, 14, 16...Rear wheel, 18...Front wheel, Addition...
Rotating brush, 22.522...<Insert, 24
... Handle, 50 ... Drive device, 52 , 53 , 702a , 711 , 714 ・
---Pulley, 56, 710, 708...
... Belt, 60 , 90 , 92 ... Notch, 62 ... Bushing, 70 ... Flat bottom, 72 ... Horizontal rear wall, 74 ,
76... Opposite side, 78a, 781)
, 78c...Rib, (fund)...Scoop, 84...Rail, 96.102...
...Tab, 130...Height adjustment device, 131, 136...Sleeve, 132,
135...Opening, 590, 592...
・Supporting member, 702, 704...Flying, 8
00, 802... Bristle support member, 804...
...bristle. 1 other person - 1 awn * Q - 8゜Procedure Nellll Right and Wrong (Method) 1985 21〕6

Claims (21)

[Claims] (1) In a rotating brush sweeper for removing debris from a surface, a housing having a front and rear portion for movement of the sweeper; a brush rotatably supported by the housing;
a drive means for rotating the brush; a waste container located behind the brush to collect debris swept by the brush; a waste container supporting the waste container in the housing and releasing the waste container by rearward pressure on the waste container. The waste container support means includes front and rear support means that respectively support the front and rear portions of the waste container; the front support means includes:
a front support member fixed to the waste container, further including a waste container support notch extending rearward from the notch opening;
A rotary brush sweep further comprising a cooperating and laterally extending support member extending from the housing and extending through the notch when the waste bin is in the supported position. (2) The front and back support means have the additional effect of displacing the front part of the waste container up and down by the amount that causes the front part of the waste container to come into contact with and slide on the surface to be cleaned even if the contour of the surface to be cleaned changes; A rotating brush sweeper according to claim 1. (3) The rear support means comprises a laterally extending opening at the rear of the waste bin, and a tab projecting rearwardly and upwardly from the housing and from the opening to support the rear of the waste bin. The rotating brush sweeper according to item 1. (4) The front part of the waste bin is shaped to enable this front part to slide over the surface to be cleaned by the sweeper; the waste bin support cutout of the front support means extends through the cutout. By having a vertical dimension that allows the waste container to be moved up and down on the waste container supporting member, even if the contour of the surface to be cleaned changes, the front part of the waste container can be easily contacted and slid against the surface to be cleaned. A rotating brush sweeper according to claim 3. (5) The rotary brush sweeper according to claim 4, wherein the waste container includes a rail located at the front of the waste container and extending back and forth so as to slide on the surface to be cleaned. (6) A patent in which the rear suspension means includes a laterally extending opening at the rear of the waste bin and a tab projecting rearwardly and upwardly from the housing and from the opening to support the rear part of the waste bin. A rotating brush sweeper according to claim 1. (7) The rear support means is another one at the rear of the waste bin.
and a rearwardly projecting detent attached to the housing and projecting from the other opening to strongly support the rear part of the waste bin;
A rotating brush sweeper according to claim 3. (8) The tab attached to the housing has a portion that projects upward; the rear part of the waste bin includes a handle portion that has a portion that extends downward; the vertically extending portions are pressed against each other to prevent the detent from opening. By energizing
The rotary brush sweeper according to claim 7, wherein the waste container is strongly supported within the housing. (9) The front part of the waste bin is shaped to enable this front to slide over the surface being cleaned by the sweeper; the front support member of the waste bin of the front support means is normally attached to the housing. By spacing above the laterally extending support member below the waste bin front support member an amount that allows the front of the waste bin to be moved up and down, even if the contour of the surface to be cleaned changes. The rotary brush sweeper according to claim 1, wherein the front part of the waste container is brought into contact with and slides on the surface to be cleaned. (10) The waste container includes a rail located at the front of the waste container and extending back and forth so as to slide on the surface to be cleaned.
A rotating brush sweeper according to claim 9. (11) further comprising a front part of the waste container that rests on the surface to be cleaned and forms an inlet portion for receiving waste near the brush, the front part being coated with a low-friction material; The rotating brush sweeper described in section. (12) The waste container includes a plurality of pins located inside the waste container and extending upwardly from the bottom of the waste container to form a plurality of pins within the waste container to prevent the collected waste from being transferred. A rotary brush sweeper according to claim 1, comprising lateral ribs. (13) The rotary brush sweeper according to claim 1, further comprising a height adjusting means for adjusting the height of the housing relative to the surface to be cleaned so as to adjust the contact pressure between the brush and the surface. (14) The height adjustment means includes a low-friction support means for movably supporting the housing, and a fixing means for fixing the low-friction support means to the housing, and the fixing means extends vertically and is screwable. 14. The rotary brush sweeper according to claim 13, which has a joint, and the height of the housing is changed by a thread of the joint. (15) The fixing means includes a support sleeve that hangs down from the housing and is internally threaded, and further includes a rotation means for rotatably attaching the low-friction support means; the rotation means is screwed into the hanging support sleeve. Claim 14 comprising an upwardly extending externally threaded member arranged such that the contact pressure between the brush and the surface is varied by adjusting the screw.
The rotating brush sweeper described in section. (16) The rotary brush sweeper according to claim 15, wherein the low friction support means is a wheel. (17) The brush includes a shaft having a drive end, and the drive means includes a drive wheel supported by a housing and an endless belt that connects the drive end of the brush shaft and the drive shaft under tension. A rotating brush sweeper according to claim 1. (18) further comprising a brush support member depending from the housing, the brush support member including a brush support notch extending rearwardly and upwardly from the notch opening, the drive end of the brush shaft being received within the notch and driving the brush shaft; 18. A rotary brush sweeper according to claim 17, wherein the endless belt of the means holds the drive shaft under tension in the notch. (19) The rotating brush sweeper according to claim 13, further comprising a rotating side broom rotatably attached to one side of the housing, and driving means for rotating the broom. (20) The driving means of the rotating broom is an endless belt,
This endless belt has a pulley device consisting of a vertical drive pulley, a horizontal pulley that is integral with the rotating side broom, and a horizontal guide pulley that guides the endless belt between the vertical drive pulley and the horizontal pulley that is integral with the rotating side broom. The rotating brush sweeper according to claim 19, which travels. (21) A rotating side broom comprising a pair of interfitting bristle support members and a bristle arrangement held between the support members and fixed at a predetermined angle.
The rotating brush sweeper according to item 9.